More than a dozen children served by Chicago-based Sinai Health System will decorate a banner to send to former Bulls superstar Michael Jordan to thank him for his gift to support healthcare for children.
Mr. Jordan sued supermarkets Dominick's and Jewel-Osco for the unauthorized use of his name in an advertisement more than six 
years ago. He said in December he would donate the proceeds of the $8.9 million settlement awarded to him to 23 charities in Chicago that serve inner city kids, including those served by Sinai Health System.
Sinai Health System has announced it will use the funds it receives from Mr. Jordan to expand and enhance services in three program areas to improve the lives of children in some of Chicago's most underserved communities.
These programs include:
Children's behavioral health. Sinai Health System is currently the largest provider of mental health services for western Chicago communities. For 23 years, the health system has offered outpatient therapy for children and their families through its Under the Rainbow program, a community mental health center housed in Mount Sinai Hospital. More than 85 percent of participating children have experienced life-altering violent and traumatic events resulting in mental health and behavioral disorders, as well as school problems, according Richard Macur-Brousil, Psy.D, a psychologist and the director of the Under the Rainbow program.
Mr. Jordan's gift will support capital improvements to provide a more inviting environment and better outcomes for children, including renovated play-therapy rooms with child-friendly furniture, art, music and supplies, and upgraded audio-visual equipment.
"Most of the kids have been traumatized," says Dr. Macur-Brousil. "Part of the therapy is to help them express the frustration, hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, depression and anger that gets triggered in the multiple types of trauma they've experienced in their very short lives. They aren't like adults where they can speak about it — a lot of times they have to play it out."
Dr. Macur-Brousil explained the children often use dolls to describe their emotions or demonstrate a trauma. Under the Rainbow caregivers also use trays of sand as part of therapy, as the comforting feeling of the sand in children's hands often helps them open up, according to Dr. Macur-Brousil. Playing musical instruments and drawing are other activities the children engage in at the program.
Pediatric asthma. In Chicago, asthma rates are well above national 
averages, particularly in minority and disadvantaged communities. A portion of Mr. Jordan's gift will support the development and expansion of Sinai Urban Health Institute's nationally recognized pediatric asthma research and treatment program.
Support for new mothers and babies. Sinai Health System's labor and delivery unit welcomes approximately 2,500 babies each year, the second highest number of any hospital system in Chicago. A portion of Mr. Jordan's gift will be used to purchase new prenatal, labor and delivery equipment at Mount Sinai Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital. The gift will also help support Sinai Community Institute's intensive prenatal program, Better Birth Outcomes, which helps reduce the incidence of infant mortality, morbidity, prematurity and low birth weight.
Note: This article was updated on 1/22/16 with photos of the banner signing and addition information about Under the Rainbow.